Tufting machine



Dec. 5, 1933. J. E. EXTER 1,937,947

TUFTING MACHINE Fi ed F 18, 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 pig. 3.

INVENTOR.

A TTORNEY J. E. EXTER TUFTING MACHINE Dec. 5, 1933.

Filed Feb. 18, 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 [NI 'ENTOR.

' f. [xfen m A TTORNEY.

Patented'bec. 5.1933

smear orrre TUFTING MACHINE Julian E. Exter, Kansas City, Mo., assignor of one-half to Emma 0. Wells, Kansas City, Mo.

Application February 18, 1932.

Serial No. 593,742

9 Claims. (Cl. 112--80l This invention relates to tufting machines and more particularly to a hand-operated device for tufting. fabrics as in the manufacture of hooked rugs, Wall hangings and similar tuft articles, and has for its principal object to provide a machine of this character whereby the tufts or loops may be automatically formed of equal length and uniform spacing to present an even pile. i

' Other important objects of the invention are to provide a machine which may be adjusted to vary the length and spacing of the loops to suit the conditions and nature of the work, to provide for interchange of needles in order that the machine may accommodate rag, yarn, silk, or similar strands, to provide for quick and secure application of the selected needle, and to provide a needle construction which will not damage the fabric being tufted.

Inacoomplishing these and other objects of the invention, I have provided improved details of structure, the preferred form of which illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein: p i

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a tufting device as viewed from the advancing side and constructed in accordance with my invention.

Fig. 2 is a similar view of the device as viewed from the retreating side.

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view through the device illustrating the mounting of the actuating crank, the needle holder, and the oscillating fulcrum for guiding the needle.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the tufting device illustrating the method of removing the needle topermit the insertion of one of different size. i

Fig. 5 is a detail perspective view of the presser-foot illustrating the application of the oscillating fulcrum for guiding the lower end of the needle.

i Fig. 6 is 'a detail side elevational view of the device illustrating the progressive formation of a series of tufts or loops in a fabric.

Fig. 7 is a detail perspective view of a needle of a size for accommodating a yarn strand and a suitable sized guide fulcrum therefor shown in spaced relation,

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of a larger type needle suitable for rag strands and its guide fulcrum.

Fig. 9 is a detail sectional view of the lower portion of a needle illustrating the passage of a tufting strand through the eye thereof.

Fig. 10. is a detail horizontal sectional view through the needle illustrating its passage through the warp and woof threads of the fabric.

Referring more in detail to the drawings:---, 1 designates the primary needle-supporting member which includes a fixed handle 2, a shank 3 and presser-foot 4. The handle 2 is preferably in the form of a knob having a ferrule 5 at its lower end.

The shank 3 includes a flat metal bar having its upper end extending through the ferrule 5 for anchorage in the handle 2, while its lower end terminates in the arcuate-shaped presserfoot 4. i

The presser-foot includes an arcuate-shaped depending side wing portion 6 extending substantially in the plane of the shank across its lower end and which may be formed as a separate part and welded or otherwise secured thereto. Extending laterally along the lower edge of the wing portion 6 is an arcuate-shaped flange 7 which cooperates with a spaced complementary flange 8 adapted to rockingly engage the upper surface of the material being tufted and to provide a support for the stem. The flange 8 is supported at its ends in exact registering alignment with the flange '7 by integral cross bar portions 9. The space 10 between the respective flanges forms an arcuate passageway 11 through which the needle swingingly reciprocat'es, as

later described.

Formed in the upper portion of the shank 3 at a point below the handle are spaced rows of apertures 12 located relatively to each other so that the apertures in one row are staggered with the apertures in theadjacent row in order that relatively narrow spacings are provided between adjacent apertures in the respective rows. This is an important feature of the invention, since it provides accurate adjustment in accommodating the swing of the needle to form the exact length and spacing of the desired loops.

Pivotally mounted in any selected aperture 12 is a demountable pivot member 13 for mounting a needle actuating crank 14. The crank 14- includes a flat metal plate of substantially the same Width as the shank and having a plurality of rows of apertures 15 corresponding to the spacing of the apertures 12 previously described.

The pivot member 13 includes a bolt 16 provided with a flat head 17 having a cylindrical shank 18 of suitable diameter to be snugly receivedin the respective apertures 12 and 15 and having a threaded reduced extension 19 to form a shoulder 20. and to accommodate a wing nut 21 which is drawn tightly thereagainst to anchor the bolt. The cylindrical portion of the shank is of sufiicient length to provide free rotary movement of the crank thereon, but the spacing of the head from the shank is such as to snugly retain the crank against lateral movement.

Carried at the free end of the shank is a crank pin 22 having a head 23 at its outer end to retain a spacing washer 24, a needle holder 25 and a knob 26. The inner end of the pin has a reduced shoulder portion 2'? by which the pin is anchored in an opening 28 in the end of the crank, the end of the reduced extension being riveted in a countersunk recess at the opposite side of the crank.

The needle holder 25 is channel-shaped and has parallel side flanges 29 and 30 connected by an integral web 31. The upper ends of the needle holder are provided with bearing openings 32 and 33 through which the crank pin is extended, as best illustrated in Fig. 3.

In order that the needle holder may be spaced from the crank arm 14, the wrist pin is provided with the spacing washer 24 of sufiicient thickness to permit the holder to clear the head 17 of the bolt upon rotation of the crank.

Also anchored on the wrist pin 22 between the needle holder and the knob 26 is a spring leaf 34 lying fiat against the side flange 29 of the needle holder. The lower end of the spring 34 carries a laterally extending latch pin 35 adapted to project through a guide opening 36 in the end of the flange 29 opposite to the crank pin to engage and latch a needle 37, as now described.

The machine may be provided with a plural ity of different sized needles all of which are of substantially the same construction and fit within the needle holder. Each needle 37 is preferably shaped from fiat metal to form a hollow body including spaced, parallel side walls 38 and 39 connected by a front wall'40 and a rear wall 4l to form a tubular shank portion 42 having rectangular cross section, the side walls 38 and 39 preferably being of less width than the rear and front walls and 41, for a purpose later described.

The upper ends of the side walls 38 and 39 of the smaller sized needles, as illustrated in Fig. 7, are preferably provided with rearwardly extending wing portions 43 complementary in shape to the side flanges 29 and 30 of the needle holder. to form heads 44 adapted to seat snugly therebetween and against the web portion 31. The upper portions of the front walls of the larger sized needles are reduced in Width as is shown in Fig. 8, and their side walls are drawn inwardly to provide heads 44 that will fit within the common needle holder. The upper ends of the sides of the heads have aligned notches 45 and 46 to seat against the peripheral portion of the crank pin extending across between the side flanges of the holder.

Formed in the side wall at the lower end of the head and adapted to coincide with the guide opening 36 is an aperture 47 through which the latch pin 35 is extended to retain the notches 45 and 46 in seated relation with the crank pin and the head of the'needle seated against the web portion 31 of the needle holder.

The lower end of the side walls 38 and 39 and the front wall 40 of the needle terminate in a point 48 whereby the needle may be readily projected between the warp and woof threads of the fabric. The rear wall portion 41 of the needle shank preferably terminates at a point below the lower ends of the side wings 43 to provide an inlet opening 49 for the tufting strand, While its lower end terminates short of the needle point 48 to provide an eye outlet 50. Attention is particularly directed to the lower edge 51 of the rear wall 41 which extends substantially horizontally between the side walls to form a backing or plunger portion to draw the tufting strand 52 over the woof threads 53 of the fabric when the needle is reciprocated between the warp threads 54, as later described.

In order to guide and fulcrum the lower end of the needle for swinging movement in a vertical plane through the space 11 to effect advancement of the presser-foot, I provide detachable fulcrum members 55, as best illustrated in Figs. '7 and 8, which comprise horizontally extending ears 56 having rectangularshaped apertures 5'7 conforming to the cross section of the needles and having a pivot neck 58 terminating in a T-shaped head 59 extending crosswise of the ear portion 56 to anchor the fulcrum members in any one of a series of openings 60 formed in the lower end of the shank 3. The openings are provided with laterally extending notches 61 and 62 to permit passage of the head 59 when it is turned horizontally in applying the member to the shank.

The members have shoulder portions 63 and 64 at opposite sides of the bearing portions 53 to cooperate with the heads in retaining the members on the shank.

In operating a device constructed as described, a suitable needle is selected having proper size for the work in hand, together with its corresponding fulcrum member 55.

The fulcrum member 55 is applied by grasping the ear thereof with the fingers of one hand, while the lower portion of the shank 3 is held with the other hand. The ear of the member 55 is then supported in vertical position, as shown in Fig. 5, so that the head 59 thereof is in line with a selected opening 69 in the shank. The head 59 is then in position to be projected through the notches 61 and 62 until the shoulders 63 and 64 engage against the side face of the shank. The ear is then rotated to bring it into substantially horizontal position, which brings the T-shaped head 59 into a vertical position on the opposite side of the shank, thereby locking the fulcrum member for oscillation on the shank.

The particular opening selected depends upon the spacing of the Woof threads 53 of the fabric as well as the desired spacing of the loops. When a yarn strand is used for tufting ordinary burlap, the fulcrum member is generally applied to the second opening from the lower end of the shank, which gives the proper oscillatory movement of the needle to skip every two woof strands, as illustrated in Fig. 6. The pointed end of the selected needle is then inserted through'the opening 57 in the fulcrum member with its eye 50 facing the retractive side of the instrument, so that the strand may be fed from the rear side of the needle as it travels over the fabric.

The latch spring 34 is then grasped by the thumb and fingers to retract the latch pin 35 from the guide opening 36. The head 44 of the needle is then moved into seating relation between the side flanges 29 and 30 of the needle holder and in engagement with the web 31. The needle is moved upwardly within the holder is projected through the guide opening 36 and until the notches 45 and 46 engage the peripheral portion of the crank pin. The latch opening 47 is then in position for registry with the guide opening 36. r

Uponreleasing the latch spring, the pin 35 into the latch opening 47 of the needle, to re-- tain the needle against sliding movement in the holder. Engagement of the notches 45 and 46 with the crank pin, together with the latch pin 35 and the seating of the edges of the wings 43 against the web 31, prevents lateral movement of the needle in the holder, so that the needle is firmly anchored against movement relative thereto.

The pivot member 13 is then insertedthrough a selected pair of openings 12 and 15 to anchor thecrank for rotation on the shank 3. The opening 15 in the crank is selected for giving the proper swinging movement to the needle for cooperating with the fulcrum member 55 in effecting advancement of the presser-foot to form the desired loop spacing. The opening 12 in the shank is selected to effect the desired projection of the needle through the fabric, to provide the proper length of loop for the work in hand.

The length and spacing of the loops may be thus regulated to suit the whim of the operator or the particular nature of the work on which the needle is used. The openings are also selected so' that when the crank is on upper dead center the point of the needle clears the upper face of the fabric. The tufting strand is then threaded through the body portion of the needle with the aid of a suitable looped wire or the like (not shown).

The left hand of the operator then grasps the knob 2 to support the shank 3 in substantially vertical position with the presser-foot resting onthe upper face of the fabric, as illustrated in Fig. 6. The knob 26 of the crank is grasped by the other hand of the operator and rotated reversely totheintended direction of travel of the instrument, to effect reciprocating oscillation of the needle through the fulcrum member 55. r

When the crank is moving downwardly as shown in full lines, Fig. 6, the needle is in position toproject between adjacent woof threads of the fabric at a point in advance of the vertical center line of the shank 3, or at a point in advance of a plane extending through the pivot of the fulcrum member and the crank pivot 13.

Continued downward rotation of the crank, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 6, effects reciprocation of the needle through the fabric until the crank has reached its bottom dead center, or whenthe pivotal mounting point of the needle holder aligns with the pivotal mounting of the crank and the fulcrum member 55. As the needle is being projected through the fabric, the fabric serves as a secondary fulcrum toeffect forward advancement of the presser-foot, as shown by the dotted lines.

Upon upward movement of the crank, the needle starts its retractive movement through the fabric, leaving a loop or tuft as illustrated. During upward movement of the crank the needle fulcrum 55 is oscillated in a reverse direction so that the point of the needle is moved rearwardly of a vertical center line through the shank 3. This movement of the needle again effects advancement of the presser foot, so that when the crank has reached top dead center, the pivot of the needleholder, the crank pivot and the fulcrum member 55 align. The point of the needle has then moved forward the spacing of two woof threads-and is in positionto be again projected through i the fabric to begin formation of a'succeeding loop..

By observing Fig.5, it is apparent that the strand is delivered from the rear side of the needle so that the strandis carried across the woof threads directly in the plane of the travel of the needle, whereby the portions of the strand forming the loop are always free of the needle and it is not necessary for thestrand to twist about or extend over the side of the needle as the needle is being projected through the fabric. As clearly illustrated in Fig. 6, the loop of the strand is drawn smoothly over the woof threads by the edge portion 51 of the needle eye 50. This is an important feature of applicants invention as it draws the upper portions of the loops in close contact with the woof threads to aid in the retention of the tufts when the looped ends thereof are clipped to form the pile of a finished rug or other article under construction.

Attention is also directed. to the shape of the needle point inthat it presents rounding, smooth wedge-like entering portions on the sides and front thereof to engage in and between the meshes formed by the warp and woof threads, whereby the threads are gradually spread upon projection of the needle so that it does not injure the fabric. The eye side of the needle point is slightly concaved to allow easy penetration through the fabric.

Attention is particularly directed to the rectangular cross section of the needle, whereby the warp threads are stretched apart a greater distance than are the woof threads, thus leaving the woof threads loose enough to provide sufficient space for passage of the tufting strand upon initial penetration of the needle. Continued penetration of the needle effects tightening of the woof thread against the tuft strand, tensioning it sufficiently to effect proper feed through the needle and leaving the desired length of strand on the reverse side of the material so that when the needle is retracted the proper length of loop is formed.

When one line of loopshas beenformed across the fabric, the side flange of the presser-foot is then placed over that row of stitches to serve as a guide for the next row to obtain uniform lateral spacing of the loops.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In combination with a supporting member, a crank arm pivotally mounted on the supporting member, a crank pin fixed to the crank arm, a channel-shaped needle holder having spaced side flanges pivoted on said crank pin, a knob on the pin for retaining said holder, a leaf spring associated with the holder, a latch pin on the spring and slidably mounted in a flange of the holder, a needle having a head engageable between said flanges, having a notch at its upper end engageable with said pin and having an opening for receiving said latch pin to secure said head to the holder.

2. In combination with a supporting member, a crank arm pivotally mounted on the supporting member, a crank pin fixed to the crank arm, a channel-shaped needle holder having spaced side flanges pivoted on said crank pin, a knob on the pin for retaining said holder, a leaf spring having one end mounted on said pin between the holder and said knob, a latch pin on the opposite end of the spring and slidably mounted in the adjacent flange, a needle, and a head on the needle engageable between said flanges, having a notch engageable with said pin and having an opening for receiving said latch pin to secure said head to the holder.

3. In combination with a supporting member, a crank on the upper end of said member, a needle holder including 'a channel shaped body member operatively connected with said crank, a needle having a rectangular hollow body provided with a head portion snugly engaging in the channel shaped holder and having rearward 1y opening thread inlet and outlet openings located below said head portion, the end of the needle opposite said crank having converging wall portions forming a curved point between the extended planes of the front and rear walls, means for latching the needle in the needle holder and means at the lower end of the support for guiding the point of the needle in progressive elliptical paths to effect penetration of the needle through a work piece at acute angles relative to said plan to deposit a thread in the work piece.

4. In combination with a supporting member, a crank rotatably mounted on the supporting member, a needle holder provided with a needle seat, means for pivotally mounting the needle holder on the crank, a needle having a head portion engaged in said needle seat and having a portion engaging said mounting means, and a spring latch member associated with the needle holder for engaging the needle to cooperate with said mounting means to latch the needle in said seat.

5. In combination with a supporting member, a crank rotatably mounted on the supporting member, a needle holder associated with the crank and provided with a needle seat, a pin extending through the needle seat, a needle having a notched head portion to engage said" pin, and a spring latch member on the needle holder for engaging the needle to cooperate with the pin in latching the needle in said seat.

6. In combination with a supporting member, a crank rotatably mounted on the supporting member, a needle holder provided with a needle seat, a pin for pivotally mounting the needle holder on the crank, a needle fulcrum pivoted on the support, a needle mounted in said fulcrum and having a head portion engaged in the needle seat and provided with a notch engaging the pin, and a spring latch member associated with the needle holder for engaging the needle to cooperate with the pin in latching the needle in rigid relation with the holder when the needle fulcrum rocks on the support.

7. In combination with a supporting member, a crank rotatably mounted on the supporting member, a pin fixed to the crank, a channel shaped needle holder pivotally mounted on the pin and having a web and spaced side flanges extendingin planes parallel with the rotational plane of the crank, a needle having side front and back walls with the side walls engaging between the flanges of the needle holder and the back wall terminating short of said web for cooperating therewith to provide a thread inlet space and having the side and front walls of the body extended beyond the back wall and inturned to form a needle point and a thread outlet on the same side of the needle as said inlet, and a latch on the needle holder engaging one of said extending side walls of the needle.

8. In combination with a supporting member having an opening therein, a crank arm having an opening adapted to align with the opening in the supporting member, a pivot member extending through said openings and having a head and a shoulder portion spaced from the head a distance slightly greater than the thickness of the crank arm and the supporting member,v a nut on the pivot member and engaging said shoulder to cooperate with the head for retaining the crank on the supporting member, a needle holder, means pivotally mounting the needle holder on the crank arm, a needle fixed to said holder, and means on the support and associated with said pivot member for engaging the needle to retain the needle for movement in a plane parallel with the support.

9. In combination with a supporting member having an opening for mounting a fulcrum member, a crank on the supporting member, and a needle pivotally mounted on the crank, a fulcrum member for the needle including an ear having an aperture to receive the needle, a shank pivotally extending through said opening, and lugs on the shank and cooperating with the ear to engage opposite sides of the support for retaining the'needle in fixed spaced relation with the support.

JULIAN E. EXTER. 

